Use of acoustic emission to locate the garter springs of a CANDU fuel channel

Abstract

A potential method for determining the locations of garter springs in a CANDU fuel channel, without defuelling the channel, is described. The method is based on detection of sound waves transmitted along the pressure tube when the garter springs are made to "bounce" on the tube. Experimental results from a fuel channel mock-up are presented, together with analytical work that attempts to model sound propagation in a fuel channel. The direction of future work on this topic is also outlined.